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This Travel2exoticPlaces post is a little different as it is about the devastation we have seen in the Caribbean in the Hurricane season of 2017. The post sums up a number of research documents and blogs on disasters in this unprecedented year.
We examines aid, funding, distribution and volunteer organizations and offer tips on the pros and cons of funding and volunteer agencies and initiatives. The question of global weather change and its impact on tropical disturbances is also examined.

Dominica Tourism in Ruins

Dominica, know as ‘Natures Island’, is ravaged; its forests, lush valleys and mountains left bare, reduced now to a sad burnt sienna, reduced to a soggy wet desert. Even the birds have disappeared. People are without everything. They desperately need water, food, medical supplies as well as aid to clear away fallen trees and uprooted house and rebuild infrastructure.

“The island is alive with coast guard helpers and civilian volunteers from all over the Caribbean, and from Canada, England, the USA, France, Germany and many European countries. Chain saws cut trees that block road, burly men and women in dungarees push and shove barrels of rubble and bulldozers plow the roads. People are building back their homes with sticks and shovels while the world sends in tools and supplies. There are agriculturalist planting in the bare land and aborists saving what the can of fallen trees. Even make shift saw mills are considered to reuse the wood for building. The Bare and sorry land has a vibrant spirit of resilience in spite of the devastating loss.” Source: irclay, AidDominica

This personal account by Guadiosa Ytac of Dominica puts everything in perspective.

“That night the waves were higher than the houses, higher even than the coconut trees,” Guadiosa Ytac says. “By morning, there was nothing left of my neighbour’s home on the seafront– not even a scrap of furniture. She was gone and so was her house. The sea took it all.” Source: The guardian.com

Is it Global Warming?

The one thing that is outstanding for 2017 is the fact that there are two Force 4 and two Force 5 hurricanes in just one month. Three major hurricanes hit the same area in three weeks.

Global warming has been blamed for the extreme strength and fury of these disturbances. While is not validated that global warning results in more tropical storms, the higher temperature in the oceans clearly has magnified the force of the hurricanes.

Colorado State University Scientist, Phil Klotzbach, says the number and strength of these storms in 2017 are unmatched with any storms in past memory. “The record is 10 major storms, which happened in 1878, 1886, and 1893. However, it is unlikely that those years really recorded 10 hurricanes in a row.”

Niels Bohr Institute in Copenhagen Research has predicted a 10-fold increase in frequency of high-intensity hurricanes if the climate becomes 2 ° C warmer.” We find that 0.4 ° C warming of the climate corresponds to doubling of the frequency of extreme storm. If the temperature rises an additional degree, the frequency will increase by 3-4 times and if the global climate becomes 2 ° C warmer, there will be approximately 10 times as many extreme storm surges,” explains Aslak Grinsted, climate scientist at Niels Bohr Institute.

Ambient temperature variations make the environment more volatile, and “a more unsettled atmosphere is more favourable for deep thunderstorm buildup, which is the building blocks of hurricanes,” Klotzbach says. In May, the NOAA anticipated the 2017 hurricane season would be above normal, citing cooling waters in the Pacific and forecasting two to four dangerous hurricanes.

Another reason of extreme weather is also related to the fact that the tropical Pacific was unusually cool. When that happens “you tend to get a lot more activity in the Atlantic, because colder Pacific waters chill the upper atmosphere” says Gabriel Vecchi, climate scientist at Princeton.

Large variations in temperature between the surface area and the upper atmosphere also contribute to the that lead to more hurricanes.

Lastly, there was reduced wind shear through the year. Wind shear is the abrupt changes in wind direction as you get higher and higher in the atmosphere. High wind shear is likely to blast the tops off storms and drains them of their force.” Low wind shear is the reason why storms like Irma were able to maintain 180 mph intensity for a day and a half” Klotzbach says.

The unpleasant reality is that sea temperature is now just under that 0.4 C rise. The total rise in temperature over the past thirty-five years is approx. 0.32 ° C.

Your Skills are Needed

There are volunteer organisations that are always seeking very specific skills needed in the rescue efforts. Medical people, like doctors and nurses, are always in demand. In the event of a hurricane, there is a need for all forms of skills including engineers, tree experts, construction trade people and certainly electricians and people of every skill.

Not all volunteer organizations are created alike, and you do need to check it out before you join. In addition you need to be sure that your particular skills are needed. Every situation is unique. At times a disaster region may get a lot of offers by people with a specific skills and none for crucial help needed right away.

In Dominica, amateur radio operators provided the only communications for the island, however there were no batteries so the radios did not work. Amateur Radio operators came to the rescue by donating equipment

Helping with Your Time and Donations

It often is daunting trying to sort through all the options for donating funds or supplies. All islands have overseas consulates that work with funding agencies in your area. Check with the consulate about the destination you want to fund as they can often help you not only select the right charity, but also advise what items they most need.

The major international funding organizations, like the RedCross, are very popular and well respected. However they don’t guarantee that your funds will go to the actual country you want. It is a universal aid service for all and they choose what to sent where. But it is often tax deductible and in some cases, such as in the UK, the government will match your donation. See more on Funding Agencies

How to Get the Best Out of Giving

The most important consideration is to be sure the programme you are donating to or joining is approved and is the best one. Be sure it is reputable and has a dedicated end-to-end response effort.

Before you run off to the stores for groceries and provisions, ensure your donations will be delivered safely and to the right people. In the early days after the disaster, handlers may be swamped with an unmanageable supply of supplies. Make sure that you choose a credible organisation. Many aid groups do outstanding work but in the event of a major disaster, it is normally the military and the coast guard that have the resources to fly in the needed relief personnel and to transport it where they are needed. The coast guard also collects goods donated by citizens. These contacts are on AidDominica.com.

When you are planning to partner with a donation organisation or a volunteering group, be certain that they are going to be permanent and last for the long term.

Keep in mind that The needs of those recovering from a disaster vary with time. Therefore, it’s important to follow what’s changing. Subscribe to Helpers Networks, such as the AidDominica Helpers’ Forum.

Recovery Forums & Donor Channels

There are many global disaster recovery, relief, response and news forums with a presence on the Net. Not many are specific to a particular disaster or a current island. Search for “Dominica Forum” or any destination forum and several travel vacation websites such as TripAdvisor appear showing promotions of places to stay and ratings of resorts. Even a Google search for forums on a specific island disaster will display many news sites with few real-time interactive disaster recover messaging sites. The issue is that the effected destination has generally had a systems wiped-out and in some cases, they cant’ even access the Net.

How You Can Help Dominica Recover from Hurricane Maria Disaster

The best way to help tourism recover is to plan a trip and visit the island. Check the Dominica Recovery Forum for the latest news and alerts on what working and what is not. The latest communiqué from the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) is on the forum and it shows many hotels now back in business.

Plan a trip to see for yourself what a force 5 Hurricane can do. your patronage will be most appreciated and will be a start to helping Dominica build back its amazing tourism industry and the Nature island. You will be amazed at how the trees and vegetation are rebounding in stride with a very resilient people.

The opportunity to see, taste, touch – to connect deeply with a culture so unlike your own – can be a life-altering event. Travel to exotic places can include trekking across the barren stretches of a desert, relaxing in a small mountain village, boating to an exclusive Caribbean island or exploring the extraordinary wildlife that roams ancient forests or the rugged outback on a Safari adventure. Exotic travel and exotic destination can be anywhere in the world and contrary to popular opinion the most exotic place may be right in your own neighborhood or not as far away as you might imagine.

Exotic travel locations can be breathtakingly mysterious and strikingly unusual. They can also be an exceptional Caribbean getaway like Marigot Bay in St. Lucia (video below), steeped in history and mystery. Or Ladera Resort nestled between the twin peeks of the Pitons a UNESCO Worrld Heritage site. They can be expensive but need not (see video above) and you can stay in comfort and holiday in style at many affordable apartment and villa resorts. Exotic vacations can be filled with colorful, exciting adventures and cultures that are far removed from your typical holiday experience. They are generally places you travel to; they may be far away, but they can be anywhere.

Whether you are searching for a romantic holiday, a family vacation or a unique getaway that allows you to challenge and discover yourself in a remote, unfamiliar location, these five exotic destinations have the power to change your life forever.

Here are a few of our favourite special places:

The Caribbean
There are so many islands to choose from: French, English, Spanish, Dutch and US. All have their particular appeal. The Caribbean is not all about white sand and crystal clear sea, although it can’t be beaten for this. I love the sense of being on an island off an island. The Tobago Cays in the Grenadines and Bequia, the young island off of St. Vincent, are some of the exotic places that we will feature in our blogs and exceptional travel destinations.

Marigot Beach Club in Marigot Bay, St. Lucia is one of these special places. It is not actually on an island, but it is a landlocked part of the lovely Marigot Bay that you can only get to by boat. It’s just a short 200 yards away at most, but it gives you a sense of being exclusive and exotic. You feel you have escaped. The rooms are lovely, spacious and clean and the view from balconies are divine. Rates start at $136 US, but look out for their specials and packages. We rate this as one of the truly exotic travel destinations in the world.

BarbadosHolidays: Exotic by Nature this island lures families, couple, singles and business travelers like no other.

This small Caribbean Island, has a holiday and something special for everyone. It is the land of stunning beaches and luxury hotels, like Sand Lane, consider one of the Best hotels in the word. The rates are $1,500 US per night. Here too are small Bed and Breakfast Guest houses that cater to modest and unpretentious travellers. Rates are often under $100 per night for top class accommodation. But check it all out for yourself at http://barbados.org, the tourism encyclopedia of Barbados, with thousands of pages on ordinary people and exotic places for your Caribbean holiday. Enjoy dining in some of the most exotic restaurants in this exceptional travel destination. Dine on the edge of the Caribbean sea, and under a sunset of orange and red watch the graceful dance of the ray fish as they glide effortlessly under your balcony jutting into the sea.

Covering most of northern Africa, the sweeping, sun-scorched sands of the Sahara Desert stretch from the Red Sea to the Atlantic Ocean, offering camelback rides and enchanting local markets, friendly beach resort towns and gracious hospitality. Located directly south of Italy, Tunisia is home to one of the most diverse cultures in the world. The paradise island of Djerba is an ecological wonder, featuring savory fish markets, fascinating silversmiths and colorful pottery. The luxuriously peaceful Radisson Blu Resort and Thalasso is on the outskirts of the resort area in this quaint Mediterranean village. Rates start at $176 US.

Madagascar

The fourth largest island in the world, Madagascar offers incredible national parks filled with cascading waterfalls, pristine forests, mysterious cave explorations and fascinating marine and wildlife. Located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa, this enchanting island is also home to a diverse national culture that includes the indigenous Malagasy people, as well as Indonesian, African, Arab, Indian and Jewish immigrants. The Princesse Bora Lodge and Spa on the Île Sainte-Marie offers 20 private villas surrounded by two exclusive lagoons and a magnificent coconut grove. Comfort Villa rates start at $136 US per night.

Thailand

The ancient city of Ayutthaya in Thailand, which once served as an important trading center in Southeast Asia, is a mystical wonder with its rows of visually astounding working Buddhist temples and ruins. You can easily set out on a rented bike to explore the ancient city and parks from the ultra-private Iudia on the River Bed and Breakfast. This boutique hotel includes eight guest rooms with all the modern comforts and conveniences, including Wi-Fi, as well as spectacular views of nearby temples from the pool. Rates range from $62 to $85 US.

The Maldives

This hidden gem is the perfect alternative to a Caribbean getaway if you are seeking a romantic holiday. Offering glistening white beaches, turquoise lagoons and abundant marine life, exclusive resorts inhabit more than 90 of the 1,190 Indian Ocean islands. Accommodations on these private oases typically cost hundreds to thousands of dollars per night, but affordable thatch-roof beach bungalows can be booked for $150 US at the Kuredu Island Resort and Spa. Located on the Lhaviyani Atoll, these bungalows include comfortable rattan furniture, an open-air bathroom and a wooden terrace that make the rooms feel spacious.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxGuatemala

The colorful Flores in the northern region of Guatemala is the perfect base for exploring the ancient wonders of the nearby Mayan ruins in Tikal, Yaxhá and El Mirador, which date back to the 9th century. The landscape of this island city is dotted with red-roofed buildings, narrow cobblestone streets and historic churches. Nestled in the pristine rainforest 10 minutes outside the city center sits the secluded Villa Maya. Detached, spacious casitas that are furnished with native art are surrounded by a private on-site lagoon that is populated by crocodiles, turtles and a flock of macaws. The rooms are simple, yet stylish, with rates that range from $84 to $94 US.

For something rather different, we like Bolivia. It is one of the most authentic, original cultures, with a way of life that has not changed for centuries. Even the dinosaurs have left their footprints in the rugged landscape. Historic ruins and relics of the pre-Incan and Incan civilizations are accessable and one can visit a site without having hords of people to contend with. We work with Hotel De Su Merced,who has put together tours for travelers across the land staying in other 5 star hotels. See Bolivia Hotel Specials and Tours

Whatever your taste, age and interest there is an exotic destination waiting for you. Join our club to get the latest news on Exotic holidays and travel to exceptional places that are truly out of the ordinary.

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Travel2ExoticPlaces is where you can discover hidden gems and exotic places for holidays, family vacations and romantic getaways. They are small hotels with character hidden away in different cultures, secluded islands and mountains.

In some cases, exotic places, villages, towns, fishing ports and cities, We look for boutique hotels and special places with personality in exotic places. Only the best and most exotic of these get into these blogs and newsletters.